Traffic fixes sought for Union Station

WORCESTER — Union Station has been viewed as a success story since it was renovated in 2000 to serve as the city's hub for rail and bus service. But there have always been complaints about vehicle bottlenecks in front of the station, especially at rush hour. Now the Worcester Redevelopment Authority is looking for a better place for taxi drivers to wait and has proposed a cellphone lot for pickups.

WORCESTER — Daniel Foyle pulled his Toyota Camry to the front of Union Station, parked the full-sized gray vehicle near the main doors, and then leisurely removed his daughter Tara's luggage from the trunk.

Feeling "unrushed," Mr. Foyle even managed to give his daughter a big hug and a kiss on the cheek before she strolled into the rail barn Friday to board the 10:45 a.m. commuter train to Boston.

"This is a lot different than the last time I brought Tara to Union Station," said Mr. Foyle, a Worcester resident. "A couple of months ago, when I wanted to drop her off, I barely could get into the driveway. There were cabs and cars everywhere."

Union Station has been viewed as a success story since the 75,358-square-foot facility was renovated in 2000 to serve as the city's hub for rail and bus service. But there have always been complaints about vehicle bottlenecks in front of the 103-year-old station, especially at commuter rush times.

Because of the small footprint the station occupies, and the fact that it was impossible to take chunks of land from the heavily traveled rotary at nearby Washington Square, there was very little room to provide drop-off and pick-up space at the front entrance.

Now, the Worcester Redevelopment Authority, the public agency that runs the station, has taken action to keep the slice of pavement free of parked vehicles — including taxis waiting for fares.

At times, those cabs line up as far as the bus port to the south. People may be dropped off or picked up in front of the station, but vehicles cannot be parked there because the area is considered a fire lane. Violators are subject to fines.

"We wanted to get that traffic in front of the station moving," said Michael E. Traynor, acting chief executive officer of the WRA.

On Feb. 19, the WRA board sent letters to the 20 or so holders of taxi medallions warning them that cabbies that "loiter" in front of the facility would be ticketed. But Mr. Traynor said the issue went beyond taxi drivers waiting to get train customers.

He noted that, over the years, the drivers have used the front entrance to wait for calls from all over the city. That's because the entrance is a perfect location for cabs to wait for business since it is conveniently located downtown and close to Interstate 290.

"It got to the point that the taxi drivers were socializing," Mr. Traynor said.

Generally, Union Station security have shooed away transgressors, but Mr. Traynor said they have other patrol duties and can't spend the entire day in front of the building.

At one time, cabs waiting for all kinds of riders were allowed to park on Front Street, alongside City Hall, until that space was taken over by the Worcester Regional Transit Authority for a sheltered bus stop.

Mr. Traynor said city officials are now working to find a place close by the station where cabs can park. An area on Harding Street, to the rear of the station, is under consideration.

If it's chosen, the location must be approved by the City Council and posted with the appropriate signs.

Two cabbies who dropped off fares Friday morning said the issue is overblown and there are no safety concerns. "It's really no big deal," said one of the drivers, who declined to give his name. "But we'll do whatever the city wants."

Meanwhile, city officials said not all the blame for the bottlenecks lies with the cabbies. They said many people waiting for friends and family arriving on trains also park at the entrance.

To clear up that problem, the city is working to use a state-owned parcel under I-290 located at Franklin and Grafton streets as a "cellphone lot."

Officials said drivers could wait in the lot until getting a call from their pick-ups notifying them that the train has arrived.

From the lot, drivers can also easily see trains pulling into the station or hear their arriving whistles. Drivers would not be allowed to park their vehicles on the parcel for an extended time.

City officials said the front entrance traffic problems have existed since the station opened. For example, limousines carrying promgoers or passengers for other special events at Union Station could not get into the driveway.

Complaints have also come from businesses that have operated at the station.

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